California Museum announces new Executive Director Amanda Meeker

July 2, 2015

SACRAMENTO, CALIF. — July 2, 2015: The California Museum’s Board of Trustees announced the appointment of Amanda Meeker as its new Executive Director today. Beginning July 13, Meeker will fill the vacancy created by the departure of former Executive Director Dori Moorehead, who resigned to take a position as CEO at the Ocean Institute, a non-profit marine science institution located in Dana Point, CA.

With a strong curatorial background and nearly two decades of museum experience, Meeker will provide adept leadership to the Museum. As Executive Director, she will oversee the Museum’s annual operations, including temporary and permanent exhibits and corresponding educational programs that educate and inspire over 125,000 visitors each year.

“Amanda is the perfect fit to lead the next chapter of the Museum,” said Richard S. Costigan III, Chair of the Museum’s Board of Trustees. “Beyond her 18 years of experience, Amanda brings her passion and unique vision for ground-breaking exhibits and engaging programs to the position, helping us to continue shaping the Museum into the region’s most innovative museum and a leading California cultural institution.”

Meeker, who began her tenure at the Museum in 1998 prior to its opening, was promoted from her position as Exhibits and Programs Director. Under her direction, the Museum has produced dozens of temporary and permanent exhibits highlighting the state’s history, arts and culture. Highlights have included the annual California Hall of Fame co-created with former First Lady Maria Shriver in 2006; “Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial” exhibition from the Library of Congress in 2009; “Ray Eames: A Century of Modern Design” co-developed with Eames Office in 2013; and “Health Happens Here,” which earned the Museum one of four “Excellence in Exhibition” awards from the American Alliance of Museums in 2013.

Meeker has also worked in research, development and curatorial positions at other institutions, such as the Sacramento History Museum, California Constitution Revision Commission, IQ Magic Exhibition Design and California State Archives. She holds a masters degree in Public History from California State University, Sacramento and an undergraduate degree in Medieval European History from University of California, Davis.